The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1887-05-14

Gerome, anXlously. The sun Is SHIN
ing in it just for few moments, and he
is watching for his fairies. He said he'd
show them to me. I can't work no
more, p
Here Gerome arose from his box, and,
singing it over his shoulder, walked
away. An irresistible desire to get
home fastened his steps, as he thought
of the lonely child in his room under
the roof.
mo father, no mother-nobody but
me, " said Gerome, with big lump in his
throat. "And me so poor can't half
feed him, nor buy him paper and pen
ellis for his fairy pictures! And him so
patient and Hgh-hearted The fairies
ought to come to him-poor little
Nccow
Here he opened the door Of their
room with cautious hand, and crept in
on tiptoe to surprise the dreaming boy.
He paused in the middle of the room,
with hushed breath and startled eyes.
And all the rainbows of the world
had left their hiding-places to shine
above Niccos head as he sat beside the
window on a wooden chair, his head
pillowcd on his arms on the window
sill-fast asleep
The sun shone through the upper
panes, as if he were peeping for mo
ment before disappearing over the house
top. Thousands of beautiful rays of all
colors flashed and wavered in long,
slantiug shafts from top to bottom of the
window sash, playing around the sleep
ing child like tiny tongues of flame.
Gerome knew not what to make of it.
He bent over Nicco and called him
softly. The sleeping boy reused up, opened
his dreaming eyes, and looked eagerly
into his brothers questioning face.
"See, Gerome, seew he cried, with
outstretched hands, catching up and
pouring the lovely light from palm to
palm. 'Tve found all the rainbows
from the sky. They're not lost, brother
but hidden in these pretty white stonesW
And he pointed to the window.
Gerome climbed up on the narrow sill,
and cry of amazement broke from his
lips as he dashed his hands here and
there picking up the white objects he
saw lying upon the ledge of the bottom
sash.
"Nicco, speak quickw he said in a
low tone, looking feerfulIy around the
room; "where did you get these2"
II found them, Gerome. Are they
wicked9 Throw them out throw them
out!" And Niece shrank away in sudden
terror from his former lovely playthings.
Found theln" repeated Gerome
ound these where Niece,
where2"
'Tn the street-in the gutter" re-
piled the little boy, innocently; "the
other day, when you babe me try to
walk out bit. They were wrapped up
in piece of paper, and l thought they
were bits of glass. When got home, I
put them on the window to look at, and
then l found they were full of rainbows,
and thought the fairies had come to me
in truth. What are they, Gerome~
"Diamondsr' replied the boy in fever
ish excitement, pouring the precious
stones into an old handkerchief and
tying it up carefully. They've been
lost or stolen, and must be taken to a
Come, Niece, come; get
your hat. This may be fairy luck for
you, after all.
And he hurried the little fellow as fast
as his lameness would allow to the house
of the nearest magistrate, told his story
with straightforward candor, and placed
his precious parcel before him. Niece
reIated how he found them in his gentle
little voice, and looked wlstfully at the
white stones as they were spread out to
view by the officer.
81 thought the fairies gave them to
me, he murmured, sadly. "And now
my window will be so dark and lonely
without the pretty rainbows.
''Not so, my lad, " said the magistrate
kindly, after hearing Gerome's account
of their orphanage in Italy and journey
to this country with relations who had
deserted them. IF the owner Of this
-------.-- = IL -. LII ~ o -.